Syracuse-area man receives 2 to 6 years in fatal boat crash

A Syracuse-area man was sentenced in Herkimer County Court this morning to 2 to 6 years in prison for a drunken July 2006 Fourth Lake boat crash that killed one of his passengers.

Rocco LaDuca

A Syracuse-area man was sentenced in Herkimer County Court this morning to 2 to 6 years in prison for a drunken July 2006 Fourth Lake boat crash that killed one of his passengers.

As Keir Weimer entered the courtroom, he carried a single red rose like those held by everyone who silently behind him.

Weimer, 24, of Manlius, had already pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter Sept. 10 for the July 23, 2006, crash that killed one of Weimer’s passengers, Tiffany Heitkamp, 20, of Syracuse.

Heitkamp’s mother, Mary Jo France, looked Weimer in the eyes as she spoke of the pain he has caused her and her family.

“You’ve crippled our future,” France said. “You have given me the most unbearable pain any mother can endure.”

France then finished by encouraging Weimer to now live his life in Heitkamp’s honor by encouraging people never to make the same mistake he did.

Then she added, “I would like you to know that I have forgiven.”

Weimer had a 0.10 percent blood-alcohol content level several hours after the fatal crash, police have said.

Weimer has already been charged with two other drunk-driving incidents, and a May 7 DWI charge was still pending in East Syracuse at the time of last summer’s deadly boating accident.

Weimer and five passengers had just left Daiker’s Inn on Fourth Lake and were heading to the Weimer family’s camp when Weimer slammed his 19-foot Four Winns speedboat into Alger Island around 2 a.m.

Heitkamp was thrown from the boat on impact, and four other passengers were injured.

Weimer was not hurt in the crash, and he swam to his family’s nearby camp. Weimer was caught by police as he was coming out of the water and he initially denied operating the boat.

After listening to France’s words, Weimer read from a prepared statement.

“I have to, and as I should, live for the rest of my life with the guilt and knowledge that I allowed such an innocent evening of hanging out with friends to instantly turn so tragic and claim the life of a beautiful girl in Tiffany,” Weimer read.

Then Weimer touched upon what France had meant in asking Weimer to become a better person in memory of Heitkamp.

“All I can do now is make sure that this tragedy didn’t happen in vain and that maybe by leading a more purposeful and productive life, I can contribute positively to both society and to those around me whom I love,” Weimer said.

“I can only make a sincere effort, both while incarcerated and upon release, to control the things that I can and to find some greater meaning or significance as to why I’m still here, and she is not.”

Weimer’s attorney, George Aney, spoke on Weimer’s behalf and noted that his client has accepted responsibility for the actions that resulted in the “accident.”

“When he says he’s sorry, he means it,” Aney said.

Aney had hoped for Weimer to receive 1 to 3 years in prison, but Judge Patrick Kirk gave him a more significant punishment.

Kirk recalled a comment that Heitkamp’s mother had just said in court.

“You took away the joy of being a grandparent,” Kirk said.

“That one struck home,” Kirk said. “You remember that, and that will honor her memory and what you took away.”